Double lip or single lip on clarinet?

I have played clarinet for 4 1/2 years and I used single lip (didn't know any other way). Then, when I was look on the computer for ways to make my tone better, I discovered double lip. All the websites made it seem so great and easy and wonderful. I decided to switch since my poor mouthpiece was at the point where it had dents from my 2 top front teeth. I've been trying it for a month so far and it hasn't exactly been "easy or wonderful." For some reason, a lot more spit ends up in the clarinet and after 5 minutes the sound is so fuzzy you can barely tell a clarinet is playing. My middle B and C (the ones right over the break) are terrible (it takes a few seconds for them to come out and they sound weak and muffled). I'm playing on Vandoren 3 and a half reeds if it makes a difference. How long does it take to get a good double lip?

Double lip or single lip on clarinet?
"... I'm playing on Vandoren 3 and a half reeds if it makes a difference. ..."





It does make a difference, and a big difference, at that. Few double lip players are playing much more than 2 %26amp; 1/2, or 3. The whole point of double lipping is to relax, and avoid biting. Trying to control a 3 %26amp; 1/2 reed with no bite pressure is going to be, well, unrewarding, as you're finding out.





It's also really important to break in, and then adjust your reeds properly, if you're going to double lip. http://home.comcast.net/~czrzbz/clarinet...





A good reed case, with plenty of reeds in use, and more coming in to rotation constantly, is important for reliable double lipping. But you've got to have your reed knife, sandpaper, and trimming block along for the ride, too. And you've got to do some woodshedding, several times a week, keeping your stock of new reeds coming along, and weeding out old reeds that have "had it." You need to have a _minimum_ of 4 playable reeds on hand at all times, and 4 more in break in, if you are going to be a consistent double lip player.





Look at what oboe, English horn, and bassoon players go through, in preparing and maintaining reeds. Although they are double reed instruments, double lipped always, the principle of low embouchure pressure that makes double reed players "fiddle" with their reeds a lot, translates to a clarinetist wanting to double lip, too.





And it might be time for a better mouthpiece, too. You mention that your mouthpeice has dents from your 2 front teeth, and while that isn't unusual, that's not the only wear and tear you've got on it, I'll bet. A good mouthpiece goes a long way to making you a successful double lip player, and a bad mouthpiece will make it impossible. Here are some links to consider:


http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/V...


http://www.clarinetmouthpiece.com/index....





Finally, the whole "relax" idea about double lipping goes for breathing, too. You have less head resonance when double lipping, because your lips are damping sound transfer from the mouthpiece to your head cavities. But, with a more open reed, breath support and breath column can provide a lot more chest resonance. To get that, you have to keep your throat open, and your tongue relaxed, too. Tonguing should be softer, lighter, more a flicking action, than a stabbing one.





Keep at it. You'll be a better player, for having a wider range of technique.