In order to calculate a fingerprint of an audio signal, the audio signal is divided into successive blocks of scanned values (104a). For each of the successive blocks, a fingerprint value is calculated (104b), wherein fingerprint values of successive blocks are compared (806). Based on whether the fingerprint value of a block is larger than the fingerprint value of a following block or not, a binary value is assigned, wherein information about a sequence of binary values can be output as a fingerprint for the audio signal (104c).