A technique to extract real modes from the identifi ed complex modes is presented in this paper, which enables the normalized real mode shapes, modal masses, and full or reduced mass and stiffness matrices to be obtained. The theoretical derivation of the method is provided in detail. An 11-DOF vibration system is used to validate the algorithm, and to analyze the effects of the number of modes utilized and measurement DOFs on the extraction results. Finally, the method is used to extract real modes from both experimental modal analysis and operational modal analysis. A technique to extract real modes from the identifi ed complex modes is presented in this paper, which enables the normalized real mode shapes, modal masses, and full or reduced mass and stiffness matrices to be obtained. The theoretical derivation of the method is provided in detail. An 11-DOF vibration system is used to validate the algorithm, and to analyze the effects of the number of modes utilized and measurement DOFs on the extraction results. Finally, the method is used to extract real modes from both experimental modal analysis and operational modal analysis.