Alien Thirteenth (C13): how to play it on guitar

Alien Thirteenth (C13): guitar chord

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Standard

Alien, 1979 · Jerry Goldsmith · nearest shape for the hand

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C13

C13 Standard

5 strings

FamousAlien1979 · Jerry Goldsmith

Goldsmith's original Main Title (replaced in the released film by a more abstract version), the solo trumpet entry about 0:35-0:45 into the cue over a held C

Goldsmith never actually plays this chord. In his original main title, basses and very high strings hold a bare C four octaves apart while a solo trumpet rises through B♭, E and A, and your ear stacks those notes over the C into a C13 (seventh, third and thirteenth) floating in empty space. A G♯ a bar later bends it out of shape, which adds to the unearthly feel.

Also called Alien 13, the implied C13 of the Alien main title

Sources: Brian Morrell, How Film & TV Music Communicate vol. 2 (2013), ch. 5 'In Space Everyone Can Hear the Chord Changes (part 1)', Fig. 1 · MUBI Notebook, 'In Space You Can Hear a Symphony: The Story Behind the Theme for Alien' · Cue By Cue: Alien (Goldsmith, 1979) · Alien (soundtrack), Wikipedia

Chord clock

What’s in it

R C3 E×25 Gleft out♭7 B♭9 Dleft out13 A

About this shape

Lowest note: C3, the root
Highest note: A4, the 13th
Stretch: 4 frets
Fingers: 4 fingers, little finger barre

Where it sits on the neck

Fingering not checked by a guitarist yet.

Alien Thirteenth (C13): guitar chord

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Alien Thirteenth (C13): guitar chord

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