Complex sentence: As a child he listened to both country music and blues, and learned to play guitar after starting with a cigar box guitar with an elastic band, graduating within a few years to a Fender Telecaster and Standel amplifier.
Split into simpler sentences: As a child he listened to both country music and blues. He learned to play guitar, first with a cigar box guitar with an elastic band, and then graduating within a few years to a Fender Telecaster and Standel amplifier.