A repeat playback circuit device for use in a tape recorder in which the tape recorder is prevented from jumping again into a inter-music detection mode before the beginning of a desired segment of music is detected. During a normal play operation, pulses from an oscillator source are applied to the clock input of a counter while pulses indicative of the presence of a segment of music are applied to the clear input of the counter to thus prevent the counter from reaching a predetermined count. At the end of the segment of music, the pulses applied to the clear input of the counter are removed, whereupon the counter can then reach the predetermined count. When the counter does in fact reach the predetermined count, the tape recorder is set to the rewind mode where it remains until a blank segment is detected, at which time the tape recorder is placed in the play mode. The counter is set to be ready to detect a blank portion on the tape at the beginning of a segment of music when in the play mode.