Modal analysis was performed on a cantilever plate with a small crack, using finite element analysis. Modal parameters such as natural frequencies, magnitude of frequency response functions, displacement mode shapes and strain mode shapes were calculated against cracking in the plate. It was found that the surface crack in the structure will affect most of the modal parameters, such as the natural frequencies of the structure, amplitudes of the response and mode shapes. Some of the most sensitive parameters are the difference of the strain mode shapes and the local strain frequency response functions. By monitoring the changes in the local strain frequency response functions and the difference between the strain mode shapes, the location and severity of the crack that occurs in the structure can be determined. It was also observed from other parallel studies that the use of a proper and careful experimental procedure would eliminate the noise problems always present in strain gauge instrumentation.