We demonstrate, for the first time to our knowledge, the generation of second-harmonic pulses by use of a novel methodology for achieving first-order quasi-phase matching in a semiconductor waveguide crystal. This methodology is based on a periodic modulation of the susceptibility coefficient along the direction of light-beam propagation in which advantage is taken of the fact that chi((2))(GaAs)>chi((2))(Al(x)Ga(1-x)As) . Efficient second-harmonic generation at 975 nm of a pump wavelength of 1950 nm has been demonstrated for a crystal with a nonuniform domain dimension (duty cycle, ~39/61).