A general method has been investigated for simultaneously solving a system of equations for the elastic constants and orientation of single crystals from measured wave velocities. Applicability of the method to cubic crystals has been studied in detail. The minimum number of velocity measurements required is equal in number to three for orientation parameters plus the number of elastic constants inherent to the crystal. Additional velocity measurements and a least‐squares minimization of the equations decrease the influence of individual random errors in the velocity measurements.