A magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) based method that consists in measuring dynamic viscoelastic parameters of soft matter by analysis of propagating shear waves at different frequencies is proposed. Dynamic shear tests were performed on soft gels with a dedicated magnetic resonance imaging system at low field (0.1 T) and were compared with results obtained with a mechanical rotational rheometer. Storage and loss moduli were plotted against frequency with both methods and good agreement was found between their results in the shared frequency range. Therefore, it is shown that the described method could be a reliable and accessible tool for three-dimensional dynamic mechanical analysis on soft matter able to overcome dynamic range, sample dimensions and directional limitations of mechanical rheometers. Advantages and limits of the method are discussed. (c) 2006 The SocieA, of Rheology.