That's what a 'transpose' button is for ... seriously, - and while I am responding, I do NOT consider myself a piano player - but, with my limited knowledge, I would say that playing certain passages is going to be easier in some keys than in others because of the layout of the keyboard - and the fingering will be different - ... using your Eb/E example, if I were playing a simple Eb scale with the right hand, I would start with my second finger on the Eb, play the F with my first finger (thumb) and bring the second finger over to play the G, Ab with the third finger, Bb with the fourth, bring the thumb under the fourth to play the C, second finger plays the D and the third finger plays the Eb ... playing an E scale I would start with the first finger (thumb)on E and play the next two notes with the second and third fingers, bring the thumb under the third finger to play the A, and just finish the scale with each finger in succession ...
Now, as to whether a 'pianist' could play all the licks in every key, that would depend on the ability of the pianist ...
I knew an accordion player who played in the style of the great Art Van Damme - all 'block chords - this guy played every song he knew in every key ...
It would be great to hear from the 'real' piano players on this ...
t.

[This message has been edited by tony mads usa (edited 11-11-2010).]