Weld pool oscillation for the full-penetration GTA welding process was investigated for its possible application to weld penetration control through theoretical modeling and experiment. Energy method was used to estimate the natural frequency of the molten pool having the physically-acceptable weld geometry and oscillation modes. An unique experimental system was built which had the data acquisiton and video capabilities so that the pool oscillation signals and molten pool surfaces could be monitored continuously. Pool oscillation was detected through arc voltage and arc light emission simultaneously. The signal from arc light emission showed good coherence with that from arc voltage, and arc light generated the higher quality signal. The molten pool was found to oscillate in different oscillation modes based on the travel speed and weld geometry. The natural frequency estimated from the theoretical model agreed reasonably well with the experimental results.