A magnetic head for a rotary head drum is disclosed which can suppress abrasion thereof while a sufficient contact thereof with a magnetic tape is secured. An upper side tape sliding surface and a lower side tape sliding surface are formed on a tape sliding surface at an end of a head chip on the opposite upper and lower sides of a central tape sliding surface, which has a magnetic gap thereon, with a pair of upper and lower grooves left therebetween. The upper side tape sliding surface which is brought into contact with a magnetic tape earlier than the central tape sliding surface is formed with an increased thickness while the lower side tape sliding surface which is brought into contact with the magnetic tape later than the central tape sliding surface is formed with a decreased thickness.