Detecting damage by using vibration signals is popular because it permits evaluating the structural integrity without being necessary scanning of the whole structure. The effect of transverse cracks is presented in detail in the literature, but in reality, the cracks can shift the direction of propagation and even split, resulting in the so-called branched crack. The effect of this type of crack is less investigated due to its complexity. We herein propose a simple model to predict frequency changes that occur due to branched cracks. Initially, we present the effect of stiffness reduction along the damaged section on the structure’s natural frequency. Next, we show that the predicted frequency drop is smaller that happens in reality. This is caused by the sudden cross-section reduction in the slice on which the transverse crack branch is. The phenomenon is similar to the stress concentration for static loads. We propose for dynamic systems a factor that considers the energy stored at the delamination ends. Considering this factor and the stiffness reduction on the damaged segment, we obtain accurate frequency changes due to any type of crack that extends in the longitudinal direction. The model is implemented in Python and tested successfully against simulation with dedicated software.