Why are there alternate fingerings for some notes on the clarinet?

Question:Because it is often difficult to go from one note to another smoothly, without getting a note in between. If you try to jump from low E to low F using the right hand fingering for both, for example, you will more than likely get a G in between. To avoid this, you should use the left hand E and the right hand F. For all of the notes that involve baby fingers, you should always try to alternate between left and right to get as smooth as possible a transition.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Because it is often difficult to go from one note to another smoothly, without getting a note in between. If you try to jump from low E to low F using the right hand fingering for both, for example, you will more than likely get a G in between. To avoid this, you should use the left hand E and the right hand F. For all of the notes that involve baby fingers, you should always try to alternate between left and right to get as smooth as possible a transition.

The alternate fingerings are for swifter and easier movement on pieces that jump around or in scales. Alternate fingerings can also be used depending on whether you're left handed or right handed, which of your fingers are nimbler and quicker.