Tympanist fish? (7)
I believe the answer is:
drummer
'tympanist' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'fish?' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'fish?' could be 'drum' (drum is a kind of fish) and 'drum' is found within the answer.
This may be the basis of clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for drummer that I've seen before include "Someone who keeps 18 [RHYTHM]" , "player among the percussion" , "eg Buddy Rich" , "Musician" , "Gene Krupa, say" .)