The electrical response of chemical bulk acoustic wave sensors depends on changes in the surface mass loading and changes in the viscoelastic properties of the coating material. We consider here the acoustic behaviour and the electrical response of a quartz-crystal resonator to changes in surface mass and shear parameters of the coating material. Both a glassy and a rubbery polymer have been investigated. The frequency changes of an oscillator are calculated from a full transmission-line model, an impedance approximation and Sauerbrey's or Martin's equation. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.