This paper deals with free vibrations of the tapered Timoshenko beam in which both the rotatory inertia and shear deformation are included. The cross section of the tapered beam is chosen as the rectangular cross section whose depth is constant but breadth is varied with the parabolic function. The fourth order ordinary differential equation with respect the vertical deflection governing free vibrations of such beam is derived based on the Timoshenko beam theory. This governing equation is solved for determining the natural frequencies corresponding with their mode shapes. In the numerical examples, three end constraints of the hinged-hinged, hinged-clamped and clamped-clamped ends are considered. The effects of various beam parameters on natural frequencies are extensively discussed. The mode shapes of both the deflections and stress resultants are presented, in which the composing rates due to bending rotation and shear deformation are determined.