This paper presents the vibration damping characteristic of a single lap joint beam with partial dampers analyzed using the model strain energy method and the harmonic response analysis which were based on a finite element model. The two finite element analysis methods exhibited very similar results of the resonant frequency and system loss factor which were comparable to those by the theoretical analysis. Effects of the location of partial dampers and elastic moduli and thickness of their layers on the system loss factor were studied. The damping effects due to changes of modules and loss factor of the viscoelastic layer in lap joint and partial dampers were also studied. Consequently, the geometrical and material conditions at maximizing the system loss factor were suggested.