Bulk　shear　wave　(BSW)　transducers　are　usually　used　to　generate　bulk　shear　waves　to　detect　defects.　In　the　study,　we　generated　guided　waves　in　a　steel　plate　for　defect　detection　with　a　BSW　transducer.　A　0.5-　MHz　BSW　transducer　was　coupled　on　a　steel　plate　(1200　mm×610　mm×0.2　mm)　with　a　couplant.　We　firstly　identified　the　generated　wave　modes　and　then　experimentally　validated　the　propagation　directions.　The　guided　waves　were　classified　into　Lamb　waves　(S0　and　A0　modes)　and　shear　horizontal　waves　(SH0　mode)　and　the　primary　modes　were　S0　and　SH0　propagating　in　two　perpendicular　directions.　In　this　way,　rectangular　through-thickness　notches　with　the　orientations　of　0°　and　90°　in　the　plate　were　detected　by　S0　and　SH0　modes　with　a　BSW　transducer.　The　results　validated　that　the　S0　mode　or　SH0　mode　might　be　used　to　detect　the　defects　by　turning　the　BSW　transducer　and　that　the　BSW　transducer　could　excite　SH0　mode　to　detect　rectangular　cracks　of　0°　and　90°　and　excite　S0　mode　to　detect　the　cracks　of　0°.　The　study　provided　a　fast　and　convenient　method　to　generate　Lamb　and　SH　waves　for　defect　detection.　©　2017,　Chinese　Mechanical　Engineering　Society.　All　right　reserved.