Pre-electric
Before the electric guitar and a plunge into a rock-based industry, music was very different, with genres like rhythm and blues dominating the scene.
People dancing to music from a large ensamble of instruments. Credit to the Smithsonian
Known as the big band era, musicians performed in large ensambles and concerts. The guitar could not perform because of its low volume and was kept as a solo instrument, used in quiet settings.
Desperately wanting their instrument to be heard, guitarists attempted to make their instrument louder. Multiple inventions tried, but none were able to reach the volume levels needed to perform - none until the electric pickup.