Gaita uses a special drum called the 'tambora' for its deep beat, plus the cuatro guitar, maracas, and a curved scraper called the 'charrasca' that adds a fast 'shhhh-shhhh-shhhh' rhythm on top. Singers often sing in groups, swapping lines back and forth.
The lyrics of gaita songs can be about almost anything - family, the city of Maracaibo, school, the weather, even funny news stories. Many songs are joyful, some are about missing people who have moved far away, and a lot are about celebrating Christmas with family.
Schools in Venezuela hold gaita performances in December. Whole classes dress up in colourful matching outfits, learn songs and clap-along rhythms, and perform together. The instruments are simple enough that children can learn one in a few weeks.
Because lots of Venezuelans now live in other countries, gaita has travelled too. Venezuelan families around the world play gaita at their Christmas parties as a way of remembering home, even when home is far away.