In the framework of the modeling the mechanical behavior of soils a new model based on the Preisach formalism is proposed. Due to its abstract nature, the Preisach model of hysteresis is quite versatile and able to represent complex hysteretic behaviors such us those present in soils subjected to cyclic or dynamic loadings. Nowadays, a persistent problem with the more widely used non-linear soil models in seismic response analysis is their inability to match simultaneously modulus reduction and damping curves. The proposed approach overcomes this drawback affording closed form expressions of model parameters determined through a procedure of harmonic balance. Furthermore, one-dimensional site response analysis in time domain is performed. The proposed hysteretic model is suitably implemented showing its efficiency for coping with wave propagation studies.