beech is a hardwood. this means it is from a broad leaf tree which looses it's leaves in the autumn (or fall in USA). it does not mean that it is harder than wood from a conifer which does not loose...
It's a Hardwood. The terms Hardwood and Softwood have no great value, and instead one should be speaking of Angiosperms or Gymnosperms, - generally the conifers, and the broad-leaf trees. Balsa for...