Investigate "chord inversions" on the piano.

I am not not a musician, just a fair to middling guitar player. But I think that the question that you're asking has to do with chord inversions. On the guitar, when playing chords in a conventional manner you are limited by the reach of the four fingers on your left hand. On a piano you are not and have 10 fingers to play with.

John S could give a qualified explanation of what I just took a shot at.