A　novel　method　to　improve　the　damping　capacity　of　buildings　is　presented　by　adding　some　low　yield　point　steel　into　structural　members,　for　example,　to　place　low　yield　point　rebar　in　reinforced　concrete　columns　or　beams,　or　to　weld　low　yield　point　plates　onto　flange　of　steel　columns　or　beams.　Plastic　deformation　would　occur　in　these　special　steel　when　anticipative　deformation　takes　place　displaced　in　structural　members,　thus　some　energy　introduced　into　buildings　by　earthquake　could　be　dissipated.　Since　these　steel　can　be　distributed　in　most　structural　members,　they　are　also　called　distributed　damping　steel.　The　hysteretic　performance　of　an　H　steel　column　equipped　with　low　yield　steel　was　discussed.　The　results　indicate　that　the　distributed　damping　plate　can　effectively　enhance　the　damping　ratio　of　this　column.　Besides,　the　seismic　performance　of　a　shear　resistant　frame　damped　by　distributed　damping　steel　was　investigated.　The　results　prove　this　damping　approach.　Compared　to　dampers　currently　used　in　buildings,　the　method　presented　has　no　extra　demand　of　space　to　install,　it　is　easy　to　construct　and　has　no　special　requirement　of　inspection　and　maintenance.　Therefore　this　method　is　more　suitable　to　be　applied　to　building　structures.