Using a red volcanic ash taken from Jingyu County of Jilin Province as a raw material, samples with five different grain gradations are prepared. The specific density is measured by specific density test and the shear strength and compressibility of volcanic ashes are tested by direct shear test and one-dimensional consolidation test. The influence of grain gradation on shear strength and compressibility of volcanic ashes is also analyzed for the application of volcanic ashes in engineering practice in the future. It is found that the shear characteristics of the red volcanic ash samples are similar to dry sand; and the samples all belong to medium compressible soil.