Self-righteous type playing harp, I observe (8)
I believe the answer is:
pharisee
'self-righteous type' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?
'playing harp i observe' is the wordplay.
'playing' is an anagram indicator.
'observe' becomes 'see' (observe can mean to see something).
'harp' anagrammed gives 'phar'.
'phar'+'i'+'see'='PHARISEE'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for pharisee that I've seen before include "Self-righteous one in the Bible" , "Strict observer" , "Sanctimonious hypocrite" , "Ancient Jew" , "Self-righteous Biblical person" .)