Reliable phase velocities are obtained when keeping the geophone interval smaller than one λ, allowing both a velocity structure as local as possible to be derived and to avoid long geophone spreads which are difficult to handle in urban areas. A large number of velocity estimates for each frequency can be estimated, even when using only two sensors, allowing statistical validation of the results, and providing a statistically defined uncertainty interval to be used in the dispersion curve inversion. The method is tested using synthetic seismograms and applied to real-world data, showing that it provides reliable estimates of apparent phase velocities. Although a final conclusion cannot yet be drawn, its application to observed data suggests it has the potential to be a useful method for distinguishing different modes.