Comes closer to the listeners after first notes (5)
I believe the answer is:
nears
'comes closer to' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'listeners after first notes' is the wordplay.
'listeners' becomes 'ears' (body parts which listen).
'after' says to put letters next to each other.
'first notes' becomes 'n' (1st letter of 'notes').
'ears' put after 'n' is 'NEARS'.
'the' is the link.
(Other definitions for nears that I've seen before include "Moves closer to" , "Gets closer" , "Comes closer" , "Becomes closer" , "Draws close" .)