A tape player of small size and weight capable of detecting the end of the tape with a simple mechanism and automatically shutting off the tape player when the end of the tape is detected. The tape player includes a drive gear driven by a motor; a fast speed gear, which drives the tape during the rewind and fast forward modes; and a normal speed gear, which drives the tape during the record and playback modes. The drive gear, fast speed gear, and normal speed gear are mounted on the same spindle and are connected by coupling means that cause the gears to rotate together until the end of the tape is reached. The normal speed gear is connected via a friction coupling to a bias lever that forces cam following means on a shut-off lever to follow an eccentric cam on the drive gear. When the end of the tape is reached, one of the coupling means uncouples, the normal speed gear stops rotating, the bias lever releases the shut-off lever, the cam following means engages an engaging part on the drive gear, and the engaging part rotates the shut-off lever to a position where it engages a switch means, cutting off power to the tape player.