Shear behavior of joint plane has been investigated considering the magnitude of normal stresses and initial surface roughness. Shear strength of joint plane has been measured by performing the multi-stage shear test in which applied normal stress level has been increased stepwise. Multi-stage shear test within the specified normal stress range has been repeated and two types of strength parameter variation have been observed: type 1 - both cohesion and friction angle decrease, type 2 - cohesion decrease and friction angle increase. Trends of strength parameter variation for the three rock types, gneiss, granite and shale, have been investigated and the influence of initial roughness of joint plane on the sequential shear strength change for the repeated multi-stage shear tests also has been analyzed.