Sweds and Guitars

[makethestringscry]

Why is it that there are a shitload of amazing guitar players in Sweden, Finland, Norway, etc?

[illidurit]

wtf

[makethestringscry]

Dont question it, just answer it

[NFU]

by that i assume you mean a smathering of overrated melodeath shred monkeys?

[makethestringscry]

Of course

[NFU]

i figured so. judging from that travesty of an album in your avatar.

anyway, to answer your question...i think its because scandanavia (and europe in general) puts a lot of emphasis on the arts...maybe more music than anything else, as well as a lot of culture being passed down and encouraged. i know in america, kids arent encouraged nearly as much to play music growing up, and have even less motivation considering we have no native culture or music of our own to pass down and teach. so kids end up hearing zakk wylde or Korn at 15 and decide to pick up a guitar and smash it around for a couple years. but to be honest i dont think its quite as many as you make it out to be...i just think its more in your face because this style of music from these countries is what youre probably into the most right now.

[Towedwart]

Viking blood.

[makethestringscry]

I could have went without the blow to Nonexist, even though i havent really logged on here since 04' and changed it. But that was the long winded I expected and didnt feel like typing. 'Congrats.

[A. Iverson]

i remember mikael saying once that the environment he grew up in was a very non-metal one, and that the metal scene overall isn't very big in sweden. Although he did get his very first guitar from his grandmother.

[metal_wrath]

Swords > Guitars

[CAIRATH]

Originally Posted by A. Iverson

i remember mikael saying once that the environment he grew up in was a very non-metal one, and that the metal scene overall isn't very big in sweden. Although he did get his very first guitar from his grandmother.

Who said anything about metal though?

I think what NFU says is probably correct. As I understand it a lot of Scandinavian countries also support artists financially (I remember Mikael mentioning that at some point) so all in all it seems to be more encouraged and easier to dedicate atleast part of your life to making music (and I'd assume other arts too) than it would be in countries where that encouragement and support is absent.

Whether that means there are more quality musicians is doubtful though. I think the true musicians will always make music no matter how much or how little support they get from their environment. If anything those measures probably just help more 'mediocre' artists who lack true vision and determination to live off of their music anyway.