AbstractRayleigh damping is commonly used in response history analysis (RHA) to provide an energy dissipation source, but the adaptation may be difficult if frequency independence damping is desired over a wide frequency range. And, while modal damping produces constant frequency‐independent damping, the damping matrix becomes dense, increasing the calculation weight is large. This study examines the advantage of using extended Rayleigh damping in the RHA. First, the multi spring‐mass system is used to assess the basic damping performance of the extended Rayleigh damping in the assumed frequency range. A 12‐story 3D elastic moment frame model is then used to compare the damping performance. As a result, extended Rayleigh damping is demonstrated to be frequency independent over a wider frequency range than Rayleigh damping and less computationally demanding than modal damping.