An analysis is presented of the propagation of magnetoelastic waves in transversely magnetized rods. Efficiencies for longitudinal wave‐spin wave and shear wave‐spin wave conversion are evaluated for the case of a [1¯10] rod magnetized along [111]. A longitudinal to shear wave converter in yttrium iron garnet is discussed which is estimated to have 20‐dB conversion efficiency at 3 Gc/sec.