A method for generating an optical frequency comb with a defined number of frequency comb lines with an adjustable spacing therebetween includes generating an input frequency comb comprising a multiplicity of input frequency comb lines with a light source. Individual frequency comb lines having an identical frequency spacing are filtered out of the multiplicity of input frequency comb lines so as to obtain filtered frequency comb lines. A first modulating of the filtered frequency comb lines is performed at a first modulation frequency so as to generate first sideband lines. The first sideband lines are generated by the first modulating so that the filtered frequency comb lines and the first sideband lines have an identical frequency spacing.