Linder was born in Hammerö, near Karlstad on July 28, 1907. He studied organ with Claes Rendahl and Otto Nordlund (organists of Karlstad cathedral) and is reported to have learned the complete organ works of Bach by the age of ten.Marshall, 288-289. In 1924 he auditioned, unsuccessfully, to study organ at the Stockholm conservatory with Gustaf Hägg. He was accepted into the conservatory the following year and became the first organ student of the newly appointed organ professor Otto Olsson. His repertoire during his studies at the conservatory included Bach's Piece d'Orgue, Olsson's Prelude and Fugue in C# minor and Widor's Symphonie Romane. He passed the organist's exam in 1927 and the church music exam in 1933.Marshall, 289-290.
