This paper reports on a proof-of-concept experimental investigation focused on evaluating the vibration characteristics and control of smart hollow cantilever beams filled with an electro-rheological(ER) fluid. The beams are considered to be of uniform viscoelastic materials and modelled as a viscously-damped harmonic oscillator. Electric field-dependent natural frequencies, loss factors and complex moduli are evaluated and compared among three different beams : two types of different volume fraction of ER fluid and one type of different particle concentration of ER fluid by weight. Modal characteristics of the beams are observed in both the absence and the presence of electric potentials. It is also shown that by constructing active control algorithm the removal of structural resonances and the suppression of tip deflection are obtained. This result provides the feasiblility of ER fluids as an active vibration control element.