A computational method for the band structure of nanowires having approximately cylindrical symmetry is developed. The effective one‐electron potential is supposed to have spherical symmetry in the region of the atomic centres and is assumed to be constant in the interstitial region. The corresponding electronic density is supposed to be localised inside the region of cylindrical shape. The base wave functions are obtained by sewing together solutions of the Schrödinger equation for an electron in the empty cylinder (cylindrical waves) with spherically symmetrical solutions for the muffin‐tin spheres. Under the condition of the continuity of the base functions and their first derivatives overlap integrals and Hamiltonian matrix elements are obtained. Dispersion curves and electronic densities of states for chains of transition metals and those of nanowires from metals from K to Zn are calculated.

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