Piano Guidance
Photo by Marina Abrosimova Pexels Logo Photo: Marina Abrosimova

Is basswood the same as Cottonwood?

Cottonwood has a course gray bark, basswood a finer brownish bark. Carving quality basswood can be difficult to attain depending on the customer. Also, basswood doesn't attain the size of cottonwood. Lumber appearances are quite similar as well.

Can I pull out keycaps by hand?
Can I pull out keycaps by hand?

To efficiently remove your keycaps, you'll need a keycap puller on-hand. You could use your fingers if you want, but it will be a slow and painful...

Read More »
Is 40 too old to start music career?
Is 40 too old to start music career?

In short, there is no age that is too early or too late to start a career in music. If you love music and want to start doing it professionally,...

Read More »
Join almost HALF A MILLION Happy Students Worldwide
Join almost HALF A MILLION Happy Students Worldwide

Pianoforall is one of the most popular online piano courses online and has helped over 450,000 students around the world achieve their dream of playing beautiful piano for over a decade.

Learn More »

Telling Basswood from Cottonwood

A few clues that are useful in distinguishing Basswood from Cottonwood. June 14, 2014

Question (WOODWEB Member) :

I have some trees that are down and cut into logs. How do I tell the difference between bass and cottonwood? I have looked at the bark, but as we know bark changes with the age of the tree. I will say that they have been logged for a while now and the weight is fairly lite. The leaves are gone. I live in eastern central Michigan.

Forum Responses

(Forestry Forum)

From Contributor W:

The bark is different. So is the structure of the wood cells, but you need a hand lens to tell the difference. When green basswood is exposed it turns an orange color. Dry basswood of course is white but also yellows with exposure. Basswood heartwood is difficult to distinguish from the sapwood. Cottonwood heartwood turns dingy gray/brown and is somewhat more distinguishable. The rays in basswood consist of multiple layers of cells and can be easily seen with a hand lens. Cottonwood rays are a single cell wide and are difficult to distinguish with a hand lens. If both are common where you live you could visit a sawmill and ask for a cutoff of each and compare them to what you have.Cottonwood smells of bovine urine with a sufficient moisture content, while basswood has more of a rubbery smell. Basswood smoke really stinks like burnt rubber. Cottonwood has a course gray bark, basswood a finer brownish bark. Carving quality basswood can be difficult to attain depending on the customer. Also, basswood doesn't attain the size of cottonwood. Lumber appearances are quite similar as well. I don't know if these observations hold true for your location.Even though they are both light woods I think that basswood will indent very easily with a thumbnail whereas cottonwood is relatively hard in comparison. Basswood tends to have hollow knots as well.

Why is Für Elise sad?
Why is Für Elise sad?

Musically, it is a five-part rondo with the form ABACA. It is in the key of A minor, which gives it a sad or wistful sound, full of regret and...

Read More »
Which keyboard has the most realistic piano sound?
Which keyboard has the most realistic piano sound?

6 Digital Pianos with the Most Realistic Piano Sounds Kawai MP11SE. You'd have trouble finding any list of keyboards with realistic piano sounds...

Read More »

What animal are rats most afraid of?

Rats are afraid of human activity, mostly because humans are so much larger than they are. Rats also fear predators such as hawks, eagles, and other birds of prey. Other animals that rats are afraid of include your cat as well as rat terriers and other dogs that hunt rodents.

Well, we know humans are often afraid of rats but the reverse is also true. Rats are afraid of human activity, mostly because humans are so much larger than they are. Rats also fear predators such as hawks, eagles, and other birds of prey. Other animals that rats are afraid of include your cat as well as rat terriers and other dogs that hunt rodents. Rats fear becoming a meal for a snake. Weasels and rodents are also fond of and agile enough to chase rats around your house and get into tight spaces where rats can hide. Neophobic by nature, rats are afraid to try new things, making it difficult to control them with baits. Rats cannot tolerate smells such as ammonia, mothballs, peppermint oil, crushed cayenne pepper, and pepper spray due to their intensified sense of smell. Clean and uncluttered homes and yards scare rats due to the lack of food and places to hide, as well. Rats are not happy when the holes, cracks, and crevices in your foundation and entryways are sealed off, excluding them from your home. Rats are afraid of loud noises as they have excellent hearing. Rats may not register fear at the sight of a pest control technician in your attic, home, or yard but they should, as you need to contact a professional pest control company to eliminate rats if you suspect you may have rat activity in your Broward County or Palm Beach County home or business. Rat activity that is not properly addressed promptly can lead to structural damage of your property as rats can chew through wood, cinder blocks, aluminum, and more – call us today!

Did Hendrix tune to E flat?
Did Hendrix tune to E flat?

Famously Hendrix nearly always tuned every stt on his guitar down by one semitone. This is also sometimes called a down tuned guitar, being...

Read More »
What is my intelligence age?
What is my intelligence age?

It's calculated by subtracting the year you were born from the current year. But your mental age, aka intellectual age, is determined by your...

Read More »
Is 30 minutes a day of piano enough?
Is 30 minutes a day of piano enough?

Beginners are advised to plan a daily practice time of at least 15 to 30 minutes on the piano. So you can make progress in a short amount of time....

Read More »
Are piano grades worth it?
Are piano grades worth it?

The grade examinations are fantastic as they provide you with a structure and help balance your education equally between technical exercises,...

Read More »