Crossword Genius

In music, does it mean you’ve left three notes out? (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

clef

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'you've left three notes out?' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'in music does it' is the wordplay.
'in' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'music' becomes 'c'.
'does' becomes 'lf' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'it' becomes 'e' ('e' can mean 'electronic' which is similar to 'IT').
'c'+'lf'='clf'
'clf' enclosing 'e' is 'CLEF'.

'mean' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for clef that I've seen before include "Symbol on a stave to show the pitch" , "Musical stave sign" , "Pitch symbol on musical stave" , "Mark determining musical pitch of notes" , "Symbol at start of stave" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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