A batch of 54 tropical species was analyzed using free-vibration and forced-released vibration tests. The free-vibration tests were conducted by bending and compression using nylon thread or elastic thread as supports. The wood species used cover a broad spectrum of density values and were obtained from the CIRAD wood collection. Samples were stabilized at a mean moisture content of 11.1%. The goals of the study were (a) to observe the effects of nylon or elastic supports on the measurement of vibration damping, (b) to compare the damping measurements obtained through free vibration in bending and in compression, (c) to understand the relationship between temporal damping and internal friction based on free-vibration and forced-vibration bending tests, and (d) to observe the effect of frequency on bending free-vibration damping on a rosewood specimen (Dalbergia sp., Madagascar). In this study we were able to demonstrate that (a) the type of support has a signifi cant infl uence on the measurement of the temporal damping, (b) the temporal damping measurements obtained during bending free vibration are linearly linked to those obtained during compression vibration, (c) the expression of internal friction ?V according to temporal damping alpha was identical during compression and bending free vibration: nV =alpha/(Pif), and (d) changes in temporal damping alpha according to frequency f can be modeled in the form alpha=b1f2-b2f4. This form is theoretically justifi ed as the fi rst-order form obtained from the generalized differential equation of linear viscoelasticity.