In laser ultrasonics a laser is used to excite ultrasonic waves. The intensity profile of the laser on the sample can be used to control the frequency of the ultrasound generated. In this letter we show how the frequency content of Rayleigh (surface acoustic) waves generated with an 82 MHz mode-locked laser can be controlled using computer generated holograms (CGHs). To demonstrate the effectiveness of the frequency control the CGHs used weredefocusedto generate new illumination profiles. The agreement between the actual and predicted amplitudes for these profiles is striking. Using this technique, the intensity output from the CGHs may be considered as a tunable Rayleigh wave source. ©1998 American Institute of Physics.