The present invention is relative to an apparatus for retrieving desired music number data from a large number of music number data recorded on a large capacity recording medium. The apparatus includes memories (11), (12) in which to store a plural number of music number data, a rhythm inputting unit (13) to which a rhythm pattern of a music number is input, a retrieving unit (18) for retrieving music number data stored in the memory (11) based on the input rhythm pattern input at the rhythm inputting unit (13) and a display unit (23) in which to display the information relevant to the music number data as found out by the retrieving unit (18). The retrieving unit (18) detects plural registered rhythm patterns which are stored in the memory (11), (12) and which are similar to the input rhythm pattern, while retrieving plural content data corresponding to the plural registered rhythm patterns. Moreover, the retrieving unit (18) is responsive to the user input to select one of the plural content data.