A hydraulic tensioner includes a cylindrical center member or mass to counteract the resonance of the piston. The center member is located between a pair of piston springs inside the fluid chamber. The mass of the center member is selected, along with the spring rates of the piston springs, so that the resonant frequency of the center member matches the resonant frequency of the piston and timing drive. Since the center member moves in the opposite direction from the piston, the center member counteracts or damps the movement of the piston at resonant frequencies.