Pity there's a false note (5)
I believe the answer is:
shame
'pity' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'a false note' is the wordplay.
'a false' becomes 'sham' (I've seen this before).
'note' becomes 'e' (musical note).
'sham'+'e'='SHAME'
'there's' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for shame that I've seen before include "scandal" , "Feeling of humiliation" , "Painful emotion resulting from guilt" , "disgraceful" , "show up" .)