Problem connecting to MySql database from php

I'm taking a tutorial from an e-book. The script it had me make is a simple HTML form with method Post. The php script that connects to the mysql database uses the command mysql_connect('host', 'user', 'password') isn't working... I'm fairly new to php and MySql. I don't think I am configured to have php and mysql communicate correctly... any ideas what I might have to do with the mysql database (or mysql config) and/or php.ini ? Thanks in advance.