Add a widget area before the site header with Genesis

functions.php

<?php
// Paste the code BELOW this line into your child theme functions.

/**
 * Add a widget area before the site header with Genesis
 *
 * @author Reasons to Use Genesis
 * @link http://reasonstousegenesis.com/before-header/
 */
add_action( 'genesis_before_header', 'rtug_before_header_widget_area' );
function rtug_before_header_widget_area() {

	genesis_widget_area( 'before-header' ); // replace before-header with your widget area ID

}