The dynamic behaviour of a marine riser was studied theoretically and experimentally. In linear analysis, the natural frequencies and mode shapes of the riser were obtained from the experiment and they were found to be in good agreement with theoretical results by using a simple asymptotic formula. In nonlinear ananlysis including viscous drag and large displacement, a numerical-perturbation technique based on the derived linear asymptotic solutions is used to predict the displacements and stresses of the riser in harmonic motion. These results were also compared with experimental data and found to be in general in good agreement.