Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a wave winding for forming a coil winding (30) with at least one wave winding layer (33a, b) in a stator or rotor element (100), wherein a winding former (10) is provided with at least two winding sections (13a, b, c) and such that it can be rotated about a longitudinal axis (11), comprising the following method steps: Applying parallel coil wires to a first side (15) of the winding former (10) in a winding section (13) of the winding former (10); forming winding heads (31a, b) by alternately axially shifting the parallel coil wires on the winding former (10) and winding same about the rotated winding former (10); repeating steps a and b until the wave winding has reached a length of a first wave winding layer (33a) of the coil winding (30), wherein, according to the invention, the steps a to c are repeated in another winding section (13b) with a different winding width (12b).