Starts taking hold, strange way to play music (5)
I believe the answer is:
thrum
'way to play music' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.
'starts taking hold strange' is the wordplay.
'starts' suggests taking the first letters.
'strange' becomes 'rum' (similar in meaning).
The first letters of 'taking hold' is 'th'.
'th'+'rum'='THRUM'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for thrum that I've seen before include "Drum incessantly" , "Repetitive sound" , "Single thread" , "Monotonous (or rhythmic) sound" , "Play idly" .)