The main purpose of this paper is to present both the natural frequencies and mode shapes of tapered beams under tensile axial force. The differential equation governing planar free vibration for tapered beams under tensile axial force is derived as nondimensional form. The three kinds of cross sectional shape are considered in differential equation. The Runge-Kutta method and Determinant Search method are used to perform the integration of the differential equation and to determine the natural frequencies, respectively. The hinged-hinged, hinged-clamped, clamped-clamped and constraints are applied in numerical examples. The lowest four nondimensional natural frequencies are reported as the function of nondimensional tensile axial force. The fundamental natural frequencies are presented when section ratios and nondimensional axial forces are varied. The effects of cross sectional shapes are reported and some typical mode shapes are also presented.