A little database knowledge is really all you need. You could practice a little in Access using the more advanced areas like relationships, and the built in query builder will allow you to run straight SQL queries to learn the basics. Just know that Access is a joke in the real RDBMS world and isn't to be taken seriously for any major projects (see: Oracle, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, etc). After you get the hang of it you can install mySQL or PostgreSQL, both are free open source database servers and you can get experience with managing the system from a command line (database administration).
Mainly though you have to know what a database is before you can understand SQL. Know what tables and records are, and the various types of relationships between them, keys and indexing, and data normalizing. Once you know that, SQL is rather easy as all you are doing is manipulating the data. Designing and structuring an application specific clean data hierarchy (schema in database terms, ie: what fields to include in each record, what tables should have what records, how tables are related, etc.) from scratch is the difficult part.
If you want to actually make use of those skills, then learn ASP or PHP and learn how to write dynamic web pages that interact with your data in real time (make a little web store or something). In ASP there is ADO.NET and in PHP it has support for most major database engines built in natively. Then realize that you can access a data source and manipulate it with SQL via C, PHP, anything, even Windows scripting, and feel all powerful.
Facebook
Twitter