very basic database questions

Please help.  I'm drowning in a sea of unknowns.

I'd like to convert part of my site to database (away from static 
html).  My server supports PHP3 and 4 and MySQL.  These seem like challenge 
enough and I don't know if I'm up to it because I can't even seem to figure 
out how to build the tables.

MS Access has been mentioned within my hearing a few times -- but I don't 
have the program nor the money to buy it.  Is there another, preferably 
free, program to help me build my tables.  Do I need a program at all?  Can 
I build them by hand?

Obviously I'm very ignorant on the subject.  I've read part of the SQL for 
Dummies book.  The parts that I did understand make it all seem very 
logical.  I think I have a bit of a handle on how to structure the tables 
and what information I need in which tables.  But how to build them?  Am I 
looking at this wrong?  Can it possibly be so difficult?

Grateful for any advice or good tutorials or other sources of information.

~E

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