Use percussion to sound familiar (4,1,4)

I believe the answer is:

ring a bell

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'sound familiar' is the definition.
(something which seems familiar rings a bell)

I don't understand the rest of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for ring a bell that I've seen before include "stir a distant memory?" , "faintly resonate" , "as may 1A [SHEEPISH] part of 27 [WETHER-BY]" , "Recall" , "sound vaguely familiar" .)

I've seen this clue in The Daily Express.

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