Events
Events
Improvisation for Guitarists - Past Event
Join us for an improvisation class that will focus on the major scale interval studies and modes, a musical perspective and how to go about bringing them into your music. This class will be taught by Neal Harris and will be supported by excerpts from Neal' book, “Foundations for Improvisation - a Guitarist’s Guide to Improvisation”. (The book is written for the guitarist who is looking for an organized guide to the study of the materials and tools needed for the art of improvisation). For children 12yo+ and adults, intermediate to advanced players. Prerequisite knowledge of and ability to play major scales is helpful, the purpose of this class is to take it further! Don't wait: space is limited and will fill up fast! Sign up today to reserve your seat. Pre-registration is required. Saturday, July 14th from 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM $35 per personBananas At Large1504 4th StSan Rafael, CA 94901 Facebook Event! Sign up Here to Reserve your seat! Neal Harris is a guitar teacher at our San Rafael store. See his bio here.
Bob Weir "Real Deal" Acoustic Pedal Launch with Pigtronix - 6/27/18
JOIN US TO CELEBRATE THE LAUNCH OF BOB WEIR'S "REAL DEAL" ACOUSTIC PEDAL WITH PIGTRONIX Please join us for an exclusive event with Bob Weir as we unveil his new pedal with Pigtronix at Bananas at Large in San Rafael. This acoustic preamp provides crystal-clear, super-loud acoustic guitar tone while faithfully maintaining the organic wooden sound of the instrument like no other pedal has ever done. Bob Weir and long-time Grateful Dead tech guru and Weir’s personal Front of House engineer, Mike McGinn, developed the principle behind the Real Deal in an effort to crank Bob’s acoustic guitar loud enough in the live mix while retaining the natural, unplugged sound of the instrument. The technology they developed to achieve this goal involves using a pair of complimentary filters to split the acoustic guitar signal into low and high frequency bands, with independent preamp gain applied to each signal path. A mastering stage then combines the various inputs into a single mono output, resulting in a powerful world-class acoustic guitar tone. Bob Weir challenged Pigtronix to design a pedal to perform this unique type of processing using a low-noise, all-analog circuit, to deliver the ultimate live acoustic guitar sound. The engineering challenge involved with developing this pedal to create a realistic and amplified acoustic guitar sound in this way is no joke! First, the cutoff points of the two filters would need to be precisely matched and calibrated to avoid undesirable dips or bumps in the frequency response at the pedal’s output. Second, in order to optimize the acoustic sound from venue to venue and for each different guitar, the cutoff point where the two filters overlap also would need to be variable across a huge frequency range. As a solution, Pigtronix created a totally unique tracking filter. It allows the musician to adjust the cutoff point of both filters with a single knob, sweeping over a full decade of frequency range from 300 Hz to 3 kHz. This analog filter array—at the heart of the Bob Weir’s Real Deal acoustic preamp—uses Pigtronix custom-made optical components and 18VDC power to achieve the ultra-low noise and high headroom required when processing acoustic guitar. Bob Weir’s Real Deal acoustic preamp is universally compatible with any type of acoustic guitar pickup—from a simple, passive piezo element to complex active systems that use internal microphones, contact elements and/or magnetic pickups. A source switch determines whether the high and low bands are fed by independent sound elements (such as a mic and piezo installed in one guitar) or a single pickup that is then split and sent through both filters. Single-source mode has the additional benefit of allowing the Real Deal to be used to process the sound of an electric guitar or any other instrument. An additional TRS balanced input, equipped with switchable 48V phantom power, allows external microphones of all types to be incorporated as well. Pre-order your pedal now With great giveaways including a signed “Real Deal” pedal and Dead & Company tickets, you won't want to miss this event! Wednesday, June 27th from 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM Bananas At Large 1504 4th StreetSan Rafael, CA 94901 Facebook Event Let us know you're coming and we'll save you a seat! A portion of the day’s proceeds will go toward the Bananas at Large community action plan which benefits programs such as Little Kids Rock, Young Performers International and more!
Group Beginning Guitar Series - Starts 1/11/18
Bananas At Large knows how important it is to get started on the right foot when you pick up the guitar. We are now offering our first Group Guitar Series, a 6 week series, that will get you started and get you rocking! Bring your guitar with you or borrow one of ours for the first class if you haven't purchased one yet! You will have an opportunity to browse and shop after the class. All students will need to have their own instrument for home practice use. Acoustic or Electric guitars welcome. Dates: Weekly on Thursdays starting 1/11/18Time: 5:00 - 5:45pm Place: Bananas at Large, 1504 4th Street, San Rafael Cost: $150 for the 6 week series - Preregister to save your spot!Books will be required to purchase at the first class. Copies will be available in class. What class will cover & teach you: Tuning your guitar Proper Posture & Hand Technique Holding a Pick Looking at TAB Music Reading notes Your first Guitar chord Beginning Strumming Your first songs! Pre-Register Here - Limited Space! Pre-registration is required. Class limited to 6 students. Bananas At Large1504 4th StSan Rafael, CA 94901 Facebook Event!
Heritage Guitar Inc. Clinic Featuring Mimi Fox – 11/4/17
100 Years of Tone & Timbre Heritage Guitars' Gregg De Lorto will join Bananas at Large in San Rafael on Saturday, November 4th for an exciting event featuring Mimi Fox! GREGG DE LORTO Gregg shares his knowledge, experience and passion for the guitars built at the iconic 100 year young Kalamazoo factory at 225 Parsons Street. These guitars are crafted with tone & timbre and sought after by musicians of all levels. Not only does he represent Heritage Guitar Inc., he began playing professionally in 1964, and after picking up his first Parsons Street guitar in 1965, there were no others. Fulfilling a lifelong dream, he went on to represent Gibson Guitar. Proudly he remained true to his passion for the 225 Parsons Street crafted guitars, and has played and represented Heritage Guitar Inc. from its 1985 inception. His keen mastery and knowledge of the elements and nuances of today’s Heritage full guitar line, he speaks to all genres of music and players for the must have guitar they have searched for and/or desired, whether it is a solid and semi-solid body, thinline, carved top hollow body, or the flagship “Golden Eagle.” MIMI FOX Heritage Guitar is proud of premier artist, jazz guitarist extraordinaire, Mimi Fox. She is an internationally renowned guitarist/composer/recording artist/educator with a plethora of accolades to her credit including being named a winner in 6 consecutive DownBeat Magazine critics polls. She has played with an impressive lineup of today’s top artists including Branford Marsalis, Joey De Francesco, and Diana Krall among countless others. Most recently she has recorded with the San Francisco String Trio. Their CD scheduled for release September 8th, is a tribute to the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper Album from 50 years ago - unlike any other tribute offered to The Fab Four. She speaks eloquently about her decades relationship with Heritage Guitar Inc. and her much loved Road Warrior. However, you will see and hear her play standards with twists and her unique flavor, including a sneak preview of tunes from the newest CD – all on her Heritage Signature Model, “The Fox.” Saturday, November 4 at 2:00pm Bananas at Large1504 4th StreetSan Rafael, CA 94901 Facebook Event RSVP Online Shop all Heritage guitars here.
Bass Licks & Grooves: 12 Bar Blues - 6/2/18
Ever wanted to learn how to play a 12 Bar Blues Bass Line? Want to get some step by step instruction? Join us for a Bass Licks & Grooves class that will take you step-by-step through writing your own Blues bass lines. The Blues was born in the rural south of America and has shaped the very sound and nature of rock, funk and jazz. Bass players of all levels are welcome! In this 90 minute workshop, the focus will be to 1) learn some of the most famous blues bass lines written, and 2) learn to craft your own blues bass lines. The class will be led by Angeline Saris, one of our very own teachers. As with any of Angeline’s clinics, the #1 goal is to have fun! For children 12yo+ and adults. Don't wait: space is limited and will fill up fast! Sign up today to reserve your seat. Pre-registration is required. Saturday, June 2nd from 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM $35 per personBananas At Large1504 4th StSan Rafael, CA 94901 Facebook Event! Sign up Here to Reserve your seat! Angeline now works as a full-time freelance bassist touring for a number of bands, doing session work and releasing music for her solo projects. Playing in groups whose stylistic range include rock, jazz, funk, R&B, Cuban, metal, flamenco, hip-hop and rockabilly has made her one of the busiest bassists in the SF Bay. She currently plays mostly with Narada Michael Walden, Ernest Ranglin, Zepparella and has even had the opportunity to share the stage with Carlos Santana, Steve Morse and Richie Sambora. She tours regularly and can be seen playing out live almost every weekend in venues across the US and the world. Angeline is proudly endorsed by Fender, GHS Strings, MONO cases, West Coast Pedal Boards, Warwick, Marleaux Basses and Harman pedals. To learn more, please visit her website at: www.angelinesaris.com. **photo by Matt Granz
Music Theory for the Bass Player with Ariane Cap - 5/21/17
Photo credit: A. Hasbach Ever wonder how and if music theory can make your playing better? In a two hour-long interactive presentation, bassist and educator Ariane Cap will bring music theory to life on the fret board with engaging practice regimens such as: her famed "Groove and Fill” exercises various creative note finding drills training using a delay pedal “improve-yer-groove-IQ”- drills and more! The goal is for you to connect the dots between theory and practice, and to get usable strategies you can bring to your bands and jams. Bring your bass, if you like, or just come and listen. With Q&A and book signing. Sunday, May 21 from 2:00 PM - 4:00 PMBananas At Large1504 4th StSan Rafael, CA 94901 Facebook Event! Ariane Cap is a sought after bassist, educator, and author. She has performed with Muriel Anderson, The Sippy Cups, Carlos Reyes, Generation Esmeralda, Tempest and many others. Ariane is an online teaching personality with regular columns on notreble.com, truefire.com and scottsbasslessons.com; her book, “Music Theory for the Bass Player” is a best seller on Amazon. Get her book “Music Theory for the Bass Player” here!
Dream Cymbal Recycling Event - 4/29 & 4/30
Cash in your broken cymbals for credit Bring in busted, smashed or cracked bronze cymbals to Bananas at Large this weekend for credit toward new Dream Cymbals. Saturday, April 29Time: 1:00pm Location: Bananas at Large, 1504 4th Street, San Rafael, CA 94901Phone: (415) 457-7600 RSVP on Facebook Sunday, April 30Time: 1:00pm Location: Bananas at Large, 531 College Ave, Santa Rosa, CA 95404Phone: (707) 542-5588 RSVP on Facebook Award-winning, Brooklyn-based drummer and music educator Dan Barman will be putting on a free 60-90 minute clinic to help you find the perfect Dream cymbal for your sound. Dan will also be available to answer any questions about the cymbals before and after. Dan has made himself known as one of the most talented young drummers in New York City, expressing his passion for the drums both on stage and in the recording studio. A touring clinician for Dream Cymbals, Barman creates and leads customized group lessons, has led educational programs for nationally award-winning cultural youth organizations and taught master classes for large Jazz ensembles across the country. In 2011, in celebration of his 10th year as a music educator, he moved The Dan Barman School of Drumming into its brand new Williamsburg, Brooklyn location, where he continues to meet 1-on-1 with private students. Check out his YouTube channel for more! Now is also the perfect time to get new heads for your drum kit. Rob Caniglia from D'Addario will be here at 12pm to show some Evans drum heads, and will even give one to each customer who brings their 13” or 14” snare drum to the clinic! Get 10% off drum accessories for those who attend the event!
Roland TD-50 Series V-Drums Workshop - 4/12/17
Bananas at Large teams up with Roland for a workshop on the TD-50 Series V-Drums! Chad Wackerman will be at our San Rafael location for an in-depth workshop featuring the latest flagship V-Drums kit, the groundbreaking TD-50KV. Whether you are new to electronic drums or a seasoned veteran, this workshop is designed to show you the amazing musical possibilities of the TD-50KV and how how electronic percussion can enhance your drumming style and sound. Roland percussion expert Drew Armentrout will be on hand to answer your electronic percussion questions. Join us to get your raffle ticket to win Roland drumsticks! DetailsBananas At Large1504 Fourth Street San Rafael, CA 94901(415) 457-7600 Wednesday, April 12 from 6 PM to 8 PM See Facebook Event See Roland Electric Drum Kits Check out Chad playing the TD-30 in this video:
Monthly Ukulele Meetup - 4/2/17
Join us for Bananas at Large's monthly Ukulele Meetup group! We will be meeting on the first available Sunday each month to strum, sing, and enjoy some aloha together! We will be sharing songs from "The Daily Ukulele" & have some copies of the book on hand for purchase as well as order for future meetups. Bring your copy if you have one, as we will be using it each month! The first 30 minutes will be a Beginner's overview & the last 45 minutes will be the strum and sing-a-long. Get discounts on ukulele-related products & accessories, and bring a little aloha to your weekend! Sunday, April 2 at 4:30 PM - 5:45 PMBananas At Large1504 4th StSan Rafael, CA 94901 Facebook Event! RSVP Online! Don't have a ukulele? No problem! Shop our great selection of ukuleles, starting at $39.99.
Taylor Guitars New Model Showcase Event
Be the first to play the new Taylor models, including the all-new Academy Series, GS Mini-Bass, 800 Deluxe Series, the redesigned 700 Series, one-off custom guitars and more! FREE Taylorware giveaways while supplies last! One-on-one consultation with a Taylor factory expert! Saturday, March 18th at 12:00 PM - 6:00PM RSVP on Facebook Bananas At Large 1504 4th Street, San Rafael, California 94901 Shop Our Taylor Guitars
